Receptacle and socket for neon tubes



April-24, 1934. A. P. LlNvlLLE 1,955,854

REcEPTAcLE @ND socKET Fon NEON TUBES med Jam.y 21, 19:51

Patented Apr. 24, 1934 PATENT OFFICE RECEPTACLE AND SOCKET FOR.NEON

TUB

Arthur P. Linville. South Gate, Calif.

Application January 21, 1931, Serial No. 510,188

2 Claims.

This invention relates to electric signs in which the indicia is formed by neon tubes.

' Considerable trouble has been experienced with this character of sign during inclement weather, due to water collecting on the metal sign front and forming short circuits through the sockets supporting the eds of the tubes.

The object of this invention is to provide a receptacle for neon tubes constructed in such a manner that water (caused by rain) cannot reach the socket and tube mounting therein, and cause a short circuit through the metal sign front.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle having a socket mounted therein in such a manner so that the illuminating tubes mayv easiy and quickly be connected thereto.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description reference b'eing had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a horizontal section through a sign front plate and the improved receptacle with an illuminating tube mounted therein, taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2. f

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1, the illuminating tube being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a detail section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. '1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the tube supporting socket.

Fig. 5 is a view of the tube supporting socket member taken at right angles to Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is side elevation of the receptacle or electrode h der.

Fig. 7 is a rear end elevation of the receptacle. Referring more specically to the drawing, 10

designates a metal plate ffrming the sign front to which is secured a plurality of receptacles 12 into which extend and are supported the opposite ends of electrodes indicated at 14, the electrodes are of the type known as neon tubes principally employed in forming indicia of illuminated signs.

Receptacles 12 are formed of porcelain or the like, each of which consist of a tubular body 16 having oppositely disposed anges 18 formed thereon adjacent one end thereof, the opposite end terminating in an end wall 20. The receptacles are mounted on the sign front with the flanges 18 engaging the rear wall thereof and are secured thereto by bolts 21 and nuts 22, the bolts extending through openings 23 and 24 respectively formed in the flanges and front plate; when thus assembled the portions projecting beyond the flanges indicated at 26 extend through open-l ings 27 formed in the plate 10.

Mounted on each end of the tube 14 is a metallic cap 30 having an opening"`formed in its end wall through which extendsthe terminals of .o electrode leads 31, the ends thereof being secured to the cap by soldering as indicated at 32.

The ends of tube 14 are removably mounted in sockets 34, with the side walls of the caps thereon engaging a plurality of spring fingers 35 of said sockets.- Springiingers 35 of each socket are formed on a pairA` of arms 36 disposed at right angles to a cross piece 37, the sockets being rigidly secured toythe end walls of the receptacles by bolts 38'that extend through apertures .o 39 and 40 respectively formed in the cross piece 37 and the end walls 2O of the receptacle. Mounted on bolts 38 are nuts and washers indicated at 41 between which are clamped the ends of electrical conductors 42, that extend from one socket to the next, it being understood that the conductors of the first and last sockets of the series are connected to the power lines.

The front and side faces of the tubular portions 16 of sockets 35 are corrugated as indicated 80 at 26a and 26h respectively, the corrugations 26a being concentric, while the corrugations 26h encircle the external face, each of which corrugations are preferably of triangular shape in cross section. The corrugations serve to prevent water, during rainy weather, from entering the interior of the receptacle, in other words, break up or divert the sheets or streams of water-trickling down the plate from passing into the receptacle.

Should any water be accidentally carried into the receptacle (due to unusual wind currents) the same will be prevented from reaching the extreme inner end of the socket by an annular bead 44 formed on the internal tapered face 45 of the body portion. adjacent the end wall 20.

As a further protection against moisture, a plurality of drain openings 48 formed in the body portion between the head and end wall serve to eflectually drain off any water which might possibly get past the bead 44, said drains also permitting a circulation of air for cooling and drying purposes.

I claim:

1. In combination with an electric sign having a metal front plate and tubular illuminating electrodes, of a receptacle formed of insulating material closed at one end and having flanges formed thereon adjacent the open end for connection with the sign front plate, and a metallic socket disposed in the receptacle and secured to the latng material having a closed inner end, a dam formed on the interior surface of said body adjacent its closed end for arresting the flow of liquid that may enter said body, and a plurality of drain openings formed in its side wall between the dam and the closed end.

ARTHUR P. LINVILLE. 

